Do you suffer from persistent headaches?
There are 3 primary reasons for developing headaches.
1) You're not drinking enough water
2) Your body is toxic with chemicals including medications and over the counter drugs
3) The bones in your neck are misaligned.
If you suffer from headaches and live in Austin, Texas – find an austin chiropractor who can help!
Dr. Dan's Plan On How To Not Get Ebola
I’m not worried about some exotic disease striking death in my family. I’m worried about the number 13,144.
Sure, Ebola is no joke and it’s obviously a sexy topic to talk about these days with both local and national news striking fear in the heart of America. Why? Well… there is no known cure and it apparently is not being contained.
While the Chuck Norris of viruses has the potential to become a threat for you and your family – it’s important to get some perspective on this topic.
I am certainly frustrated with the blame game everywhere between the doctors helping out in Africa to the CDC and even our own President over Ebola; but why are we not upset as a nation over the number 13,144?
This number is the estimated number of deaths, according to the CDC, from heart disease in the US in an average week! The number of deaths (statewide) from ebola is 1.
13,144 vs 1!!!!
Ebola is an exotic virus spread through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids (mainly feces, blood and vomit). The former is the number 1 killer in the United States and soon to be the world. It’s exacerbated by smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Everyone alive knows someone affected by heart disease who continues to eat processed, refined foods and yet they’re horrified by Ebola.
As a matter of fact, a recent study out of Northwestern University by Cardiologist John Wilkins published in JAMA looked at 5 long term studies of heart health and calculated all heart-related disease risk factors at different ages.
They found that if you are 45 years of age with any of these 2 risk factors: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure or overweight, the odds of succumbing to the #1 cause of death in the US is 60.3%. Compare that to the current .000000000317% rate of dying from the Ebola virus.
That means you have a higher chance of winning the Powerball lottery than getting Ebola. Still…here’s what you have to do to protect yourself.
#1 Avoid Bad News. Especially if they don’t have anything good to say. All they are doing is striking fear in your mind, planting a seed of anxiety that will only further suppress your immune system.
Emotional trauma’s and toxic thoughts are well known for causing spikes in stress hormones that can suppress your immune system and lower your defenses. Instead of the news, take a walk around the block, or do some deep breathing exercises. Call your mother – find someone to love ;)
#2 Get Your Chiropractic Adjustments. During the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1917 and 1918 approximately 500,000 Americans died. Something practically no one knows is that flu patients treated with chiropractic had a substantially higher rate of survival than those treated with medical care.
Statistics from New York in 1918:
| Influenza Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Under Medical Care 10,000 people | 950 |
| Under Chiropractic care 10,000 people | 25 |
Chiropractic boosts immunity and allows your body to heal itself better and faster. Very important for day to day health, even more important when fighting super bugs.
Want a stronger, healthier immune system? Get Adjusted.
#3 Avoid contact with sick people (especially if they just got off a plane from Africa)
Blood, feces and vomit carry the highest concentrations of the virus, so don’t touch anyone’s blood, feces or vomit. LOL… Do I seriously have to tell you that? But saliva, semen and even breast milk can carry it. Here’s what’s important to know: Even if you DO come into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically infected. The ONLY way you can become infected is if those body fluids enter your body through an open wound on your skin, or through your mucus membranes (your eyes, nose, mouth or genitalia).
A few things about contact….
Can I get it from sweat? Don’t sweat it. Until a person is symptomatic, they are not infectious. The World Health Organization (WHO) says whole live virus has never been isolated from sweat.
Can I get it from saliva? Again, WHO says saliva at the most severe stage of the disease, and also tears, may carry some risk, but the studies are inconclusive. The virus has been detected in breast milk and semen. So it’s probably a good idea to not drink milk or have sex with someone who has ebola!
What if someone sneezes in my face? Punch them as no one should sneeze in your face, ever. Theoretically, a person heavily infected with Ebola could cough violently and send wet, heavy droplets into the face of somebody nearby. The person most at risk of catching Ebola this way would be whoever is nursing the patient, and they would hopefully be wearing protective clothing including a mask.
Can Ebola become airborne? Theoretically yes, but we can also theoretically get smacked by a large killer asteroid today. Chances are, ebola will not become airborne and we will not get Arnold Schwarzeneggered by an asteroid.
#4 Wash your hands. I know, this goes without saying, but really… wash your hands peeps! The most likely way you’ll come into contact with the ebola virus (or any virus for that matter) is by touching something that is wet or bloody, and then transferring it to your eyes, mouth or an area of broken skin on your body. Soap and water come a long way for public sanitation.
So lather up some soap and rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
#5 Load up on Immune Boosting Supplements. Vitamin D3, Probiotics and Omega 3 Fatty acids have all been shown to enhance immune function. You should be taking these anyway, but if you’re not – then get them before Ebola gets you! (Just kidding).
#6 UV Light kills Ebola. When UV-C light meets viruses or bacteria, it destroys their DNA, thus robbing it of its ability to reproduce. The virus is quite fragile and is easily destroyed by UV light. Pretty cool huh?
My point – is that if you are doing your job to stay healthy and putting in the effort of building a strong immune system by eating healthy, moving properly (getting your spine adjusted) and not succumbing to stress – then don’t worry ‘bout it.
The current Ebola panic is very reminiscent of the 2005 bird flu hoax, and the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) scare—another Level 1 “emergency” that turned out to be grossly hyped to promote the sales of unnecessary vaccines that turned out to be riddled with horrible side effects, including the devastating sleeping disorder, narcolepsy.
In 2005, President Bush made the public prediction that two million Americans might die from the bird flu. Similar predictions were issued in 2006, 2007, and again in 2008.
Then, in 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned its 194 member nations to expect up to 1/3 of the world's population to be infected with the swine flu (H1N1). Massive amounts of casualties were again predicted; dangerous vaccines were fast-tracked, and antiviral drugs later shown to be useless were stockpiled. The antiviral flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza were found to shorten duration of symptoms by less than a day, and had no effect on the number of hospitalizations. One British study concluded that Tamiflu drugs given for the swine flu was “a waste of 500 million” as it did nothing to halt the spread of influenza.
So… worry more about 13,000 people dying each and every week to heart disease versus the 1 person that’s died from Ebola.
The US ranks 2nd to last when it comes to our health status.
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A common diabetes drug, Metformin has been linked to increasing the risk of developing thyroid problems and heart disease. This is not the first diabetic drug to cause problems though. Avandia has been banned in Europe for causing cardiovascular death, but still cleared by the FDA in the US? What! How is it ok for Europeans to be protected from dangerous drugs but not Americans?
Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels by reducing glucose production in the liver.
But new research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found the drug is linked to having an underactive thyroid. This relationship of lowering thyroid hormone is then associated with a host of other ailments including heart disease, goiter, pregnancy problems and even life threatening coma conditions.
The study, published in Canadian Medical Association Journal, examined data on 74,300 patients who received metformin and sulfonylurea, another common diabetes drug, over a 25-year study period.
Of these people, 5,689 were being treated for an underactive thyroid, and 59,937 had normal thyroid function.
In the group with an underactive thyroid, there were 495 incidences of low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (119.7 per 1000) per year compared with 322 in the normal group (4.5 per 1000).
Dr Laurent Azoulay at the Department of Oncology, McGill University, said: ‘The results of this study confirmed that the use of metformin was associated with an increased risk of low TSH levels in patients with treated hypothyroidism.
‘Given the relatively high incidence of low TSH levels in patients taking metformin, it is imperative that future studies assess the clinical consequences of this effect.'
Recently an 11 year old female patient began scoliosis treatment in our office. We started seeing her 3 times per week and after 6 visits took an xray to track progress. She started with a moderate curve of the spine of 22.4 degrees and at her sixth visit she improved to a mild curve with only 8.9 degrees. Corrective chiropractic works for scoliosis treatment. How many children out there could experience the same results without uncomfortable braces or worse – dangerous surgeries? How many children are at risk of developing spinal problems?
Recent studies determined that middle school students carry anywhere between 14 and 20 pounds of books, notebooks, snacks, and supplies in their backpacks. When that amount of weight is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, its force will pull the child backwards. This stress causes the child to bend their hips back or arch the back – which leads to spinal misalignments, pain, discomfort, and even scoliosis.
Children who choose to wear their backpacks over just one shoulder, will end up forcing themselves to lean to the opposite side, in order to offset the extra weight. This will not only cause shoulder strain / pain, as well as back and neck pain, but for those with scoliosis, it will be downright uncomfortable and lead to worsening of the condition.
3 Things that can help your child offset these problems:
1. Wheeled backpacks
2. Online text books (where available)
3. Corrective chiropractic care
Without help, a child will develop spinal misalignments – leading to a wide range of health problems. These problems include:
It's also been determined that most children with spinal misalignments suffer from
While wheeled backpacks and online books are a great way to keep children from carrying heavy loads, one must remember that school-age children can also develop poor posture and spinal injuries during sports, slouching in their chairs in class, or horsing around with their friends.
Corrective Chiropractic is aimed to realign the spine back to health, improve posture, and eliminate the source of pain and nerve interference.
Your spine is an incredible marvel of engineering, being able to withstand large forces and yet maintaining great flexibility. It is the perfect combination of strength and flexibility that allows human beings to achieve amazing physical feats. The brain and nerves of the body are what control all function. The spine is what protects the brain. Failure to maintain the spine in optimal positions will result in early wear and tear or spine arthritis. If you are not proactively taking care of your spine through corrective chiropractic adjustments, you're risking early wear and tear. Get your spine adjusted to enjoy life long spine protection.
We all know that eating fish regularly has amazing health benefits. Fish is an excellent source of high quality protein that also comes packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Fish is nutritionally rich with calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. Consuming fish at least two times per week has been associated with lower blood pressure and helping to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
But as our environment (especially our oceans) has become more polluted, so have our fish.
We now live in a time where fish is one of the best foods to eat; yet also detrimental to our health. In this article I will be discussing 5 highly toxic fish that you should avoid. Just like grass fed beef is healthier than commercially grown; fish caught in the wild are much better for you than farm-bred or farm-raised.
The most common farm-raised fish being consumed today includes: salmon, tilapia, sea bass, catfish, and cod.
Another issue is the ecological impact of eating fish. As population soars, the demand for food has increased and this is becoming a major issue for the sea. This environmental factor involves either using sustainable fishing techniques in the wild that don't overly deplete stocks of the target fish or other species, or aquaculture practices that don't pollute or permit farmed fish to escape into the wild. (In some cases wild-caught fish is best; in others, the farms are actually more sustainable and clean!
1. Farm Raised Salmon
Farmed salmon has been shown to have 10 times the amount of cancer causing pollutants compared to the wild type. Truth is, If you knew what went into the feeds of farm raised fish, you would be horrified and likely never eat farmed fish again.
Researchers at Indiana University and five other research centers say increased toxin levels in farm-raised salmon pose health risks to people who eat it regularly. Their study, which appears in (Jan. 9) issue of Science, is the most comprehensive analysis to date of salmon toxin concentrations.
2. Tilapia
This freshwater favorite is celebrated for its mild flavor and versatility, but unfortunately, the benefits end there. Recent studies have concluded that eating Tilapia is associated with increased inflammation that can lead to heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other problems.
3. Orange Roughy
The biggest concern with this fish is it’s elevated amounts of mercury, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. High doses of mercury can interfere with normal brain function and are particularly dangerous for pregnant and breastfeeding women and small children.
4. Atlantic Halibut
This fish is high in mercury, but the bigger issue is whether or not Atlantic halibut should still be listed as endangered! There's no question that the environmental impact itself is still in terrible shape after years of overfishing. It’s unfortunate that endangered fish do not get the same attention that land animals do. I try to make it a point to bring it to light.
5. Farmed Shrimp
I’ll be honest…I love shrimp. But imported farmed shrimp may contain antibiotics and chemical residues that can cause disease. Studies suggest that ninety (90) percent of all shrimp comes from Asia and is raised in a toxic sewage pond environment. This water is so contaminated and diseased that the farmers use outrageous amounts of antibiotics. So the next time you order cocktail shrimp… realize that you’re actually biting into a cocktail of antibiotics, bacteria, poisons and other toxins that pose a tremendous short and long-term health risk
1. Wild Alaskan Salmon
Fresh, frozen, or canned are all OK as long as it’s wild. I personally choose Sockeye Salmon. Realize that wild salmon will cost a bit more more than farmed, but considering that studies show farmed salmon is full of parasites and disease, a few extra dollars goes a long way!
2. Arctic Char
Either wild or farmed Arctic char would be a suitable substitute for wild salmon. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, Arctic char, unlike farmed Atlantic salmon, are farmed in an environmentally responsible manner. Since Arctic char is much less plentiful than salmon, it costs a bit more, usually ranging in price from about $9 to about $11 per pound.
3. Trout
Lake trout have a higher risk of being contaminated, but the farmed variety get a “best choice” rating from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, a consumer watch group.
4. Sardines
This small sea creature is seafood superstar. It’s affordable, sustainable and packs a nutrition power punch with 23 grams of protein for a single serving! Sardines are loaded with omega-3s and naturally high in vitamin D and you can eat them fresh or from a can!
5. Anchovies
Anchovies pack big flavor for such small fish. This makes them highly sustainable. They’re so strong that only a small amount of anchovy is needed to add flavor to sauces, salad dressings, pasta and pizza. What’s amazing is that like sardines, even though they’re small, they deliver large amounts of nutrients in the form of essential fatty acids, protein and other micro minerals.
References:
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. ”Seafood Recommendations,” accessed April 2014.http://www.montereybayaquarium.org.
Science 9 January 2004: Vol. 303 no. 5655 pp. 226-229
Love, David C. Environmental Science Technology, 2011, Veterinary Drug Residues in Seafood Inspected by the European Union, United States, Canada, and Japan from 2000 to 2009. 45(17)7232–7240.
Environmental Working Group. Reports Farmed Fish PCB’s. http://www.ewg.org/reports/farmedpcbs (accessed March 2012).
Environmental Defense Fund. ”Complete List of Seafood Eco-Ratings,” accessed April 2014. http://apps.edf.org.
We all need help maintaining our personal spiritual practice — whatever faith you have — Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Atheism – being connected and mindful is a powerful rhythm in the well being of life.
Harvard scientists are much closer to proving what yogis have held to be true for centuries — meditation can wash off stress and even slow down disease. This groundbreaking research has demonstrated that meditation can literally affect genes and brain activity in the chronically stressed. We now know that these practices are so powerful that they can swith on and off the genes linked to stress and immunity.
Is Meditation Something You Should consider?
For starters, I absolutely know you have all felt stress because it's also been determined that there's more stress in people's lives today than 25 years ago. When you compare the early 1980s to today, economic pressures are greater, and it's getting harder and harder to turn off information.
So YES! Meditation is something you should consider as part of your health and wellness practices. Why, because its genetically compatible suggesting that you were hardwired for it. This means that the same power that made your body – also made it to respond positively to meditative practices!
Historically, mediation has been studied using questionnaires and blood pressure monitors. But more recently, scientists have begun using neuro-imaging and genomics technology to measure physiological changes in greater detail.
What did new Brain Imaging and Genetic Tests find out about Meditation?
There is a true biological effect at play. Harvard researchers found that the kinds of things that happen when you meditate have effects throughout the whole body, not just in the brain. They found that many physiological parameters that occur during healing, are ramped up during meditation. This literally means, it helps you to repair and rebuild your body.
We live in an ocean of stress. And stress-induced conditions such as hypertension and infertility to depression are all skyrocketing with healthcare costs paralleling this tragedy. These conditions account for 60 to 90 percent of doctor's visits in the U.S., according to the Benson-Henry Institute. The World Health Organization estimates stress costs U.S. companies at least $300 billion a year through absenteeism, turn-over and low productivity.
The Immortality Enzyme
The study published in May in the medical journal PloS One showed that one session of relaxation-response practice (Meditation) was enough to enhance the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and insulin secretion and reduce expression of genes linked to inflammatory response and stress. There was an effect even among novices who had never practiced before.
In another study, conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles and Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn found that 12 minutes of daily meditation for eight weeks increased telomerase activity by 43 percent, suggesting an improvement in stress-induced aging. Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco, shared the Nobel medicine prize in 2009 with Carol Greider and Jack Szostak for research on the telomerase “immortality enzyme,” which slows the cellular aging process.
We now know that the physical signs of aging – wrinkles, droopy skin, muscle loss and joint degeneration are all related to decreases in the telomerase enzyme. So naturally — if meditation can increase telomerase by 43%, you can effectively slow down aging!
Take that to your cosmetic store!
Sitting is now considered more dangerous than smoking when it comes to your health. It results in bad posture that eats away at your spine. If you sit all day at a computer, you should seriously consider getting a chiropractor to make sure that your spine is not wearing down faster than it should.
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[button_2 color=”green” align=”center” href=”https://www.familyhealthchiropractic.com/schedule-an-appointment/”]Schedule an Appointment[/button_2]Chiropractic has been shown to be helpful for hypertension.
“This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination,” study leader George Bakris, MD, tells WebMD. “And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems,” adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.
http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20070316/chiropractic-cuts-blood-pressure
